Why does anyone still use PayPal? Ridiculous and unexpected chargebacks like this can easily and instantly wipe out any marginal increase in sales returns granted by choosing to allow it as a payment option.

Because ebay will pull your auctions and/or suspend/ban you if you state in your auctions that you accept Google Checkout, personal checks, or Western Union.

Use of the words 'pimp' (especially as an adjective), and 'bling' really needs to stop.

I was reading Newsweek and both of those words appeared in one article, and 'Bling' appeared in two other articles in that issue.

'Thug Culture' and the glorification of violence, disrespect towards women, etc. also needs to go. That sort of ties into another thing that pisses me off - pop hip-hop culture. Not to be confused with real hip-hop culture. I'm talking about the MTV/Clear Channel shit.

I was ranting about thugs yesterday actually. If I had a kid who tried to dress like that, I'd take his clothes and burn them. Without getting too into the argument, thug culture encourages racism.

I saw two fine young gents in the airport the other day. They were of vaguely swarthy, indeterminate race, and they were both wearing hip-hop threads, Timbs and do-rags - but the rags were wrapped super-tight and had these weird lumps on top, as if they were samurai-top-know thugs...

I stared in bewilderment until I saw their father appear - an imposing, classically be-turbaned Sikh! His sons had actually taken the traditional Sikh requirement of turbaning up the hair and spun it around to the Thug Life aesthetic!!

Use of the words 'pimp' (especially as an adjective), and 'bling' really needs to stop.

I was reading Newsweek and both of those words appeared in one article, and 'Bling' appeared in two other articles in that issue.

'Thug Culture' and the glorification of violence, disrespect towards women, etc. also needs to go. That sort of ties into another thing that pisses me off - pop hip-hop culture. Not to be confused with real hip-hop culture. I'm talking about the MTV/Clear Channel shit.

1. tiny rolling "luggage" (especially on the Metro) that weighs all of 5 lbs.
2. automated deliver scheduling software that won't accept that your condo restricts what hours deliveries can be made--and the dumb bitch who won't override it.
3. stores that don't tell you they will be closed for Easter Sunday.
4. people in museums who insist on walking in front of you as you are admiring the artwork. Hey, look where you're going douche.

No.
Not trying to be flip with the short answer, but finding the middle ground between that and an overlong, rambling explanation takes too much effort. (But if you're really curious, I don't mind addressing more specific questions.)

Then I need an explanation. If they aren't related, I'd just say EBay can choose to do business with one firm and that's their..well, business.

But if they are related, then I'd look at EBay's position as the far-out leader in internet auctions (what competes with EBay?) and ask if their requiring the use of PayPal isn't just a tying arrangement in order to take over the internet-payment business also.

Then I need an explanation. If they aren't related, I'd just say EBay can choose to do business with one firm and that's their..well, business.

But if they are related, then I'd look at EBay's position as the far-out leader in internet auctions (what competes with EBay?) and ask if their requiring the use of PayPal isn't just a tying arrangement in order to take over the internet-payment business also.

bob

Tying generally means you're requiring the use of the second product. Here, they're prohibiting references to competing products (competing against the "second" service, paypal). You're not required to use paypal. You can send checks or use a variety of other payment methods. You can probably also use Western Union, etc., but just can't explicitly list them on your ebay listing.
Also, while I'm assuming for argument's sake that ebay has market power given its large market share, the facts that ebay is not providing a unique product or service, and that presumably it would be relatively easy for a new market entrant to compete, may well run counter to that.
(Just my off-the-cuff thoughts, obviously. FWIW in deciding how much salt to take with my views, I'm not an antitrust expert although I've dabbled in it from time to time.)